At the age of sixteen, Buttons began working as a comedian in vaudeville, burlesque, and on the Catskills “ Borscht Circuit.” Among his career credits are a television variety show, The Red Buttons Show (1952–55), and countless television, stage, and film appearances, including Harlow (1965), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), and Sayonara (1957) for which he won an Oscar.